Transmitting system



Sept 7, 1943- F. w. JACKSON 2,328,556

,IRANSMITTING SYSTEM Original Filed March 22, 1934 7 Sheets-Shes?l 1 eeew 11.12/ y@ INVENTOR. /qi/YK l/I/ JIM/50N Sept 7, 1943- F. w. JACKSON 2,328,556

TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Original Filed March 22, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zl INVENTOR.

-' I Fea/v@ l/ 4ck/50N M14/:7 3f. A ORNEY.

Sept 7, 1943. F. w. JACKSON 2,328,556

.PRANSMITTING SYSTEM Original Filed March 22, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Wl 1' l, .l ,N

i 'l 125 K IN VEN TOR. /eA/vx Jaffa/v ATTORNEY.

Sept. 7, 1943. F. w. JACKSON TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Original Filed March 22, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Y vimm. m. kmwk Sept. 7, 1943- F. w. JACKSON `TRANSMITTING SYSTEM 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 2", 1934 @M @MM WW SePf- 7, 1.943 F. w. .JACKSON I -2,328,556

TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Original Filed March 22, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 'fw/ W. www

Patented Sept. 7, 1943 TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Frank W. Jackson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to S. H. Couch Company Inc., North Quincy, Mass.

Continuation of application Serial No. 716,829, March 22, 1934. This application October 22,

1940, Serial No. 362,256

Claims. (C1. 177-360) This invention relates to signal transmitting systems generally and in its specific embodiment to a signal transmitting system that is adapted to be used in connection With re alarm call boxes, sprinkler systems, and the like, and is a continuation of my prior application Serial No. 716,829, filed March 22, 1934, now abandoned.

This invention has particular application to sprinkler system installations such as are commercially known in industrial and plant hookups.

In larger sprinkling system installations where the pipe lines extend over large areas and also in buildings having several floors, there is customarily provided a central office in which there are located the principal equipment and annunciators for controlling and indicating the conditions of a sprinkling system and network which extends throughout the building or, where several buildings are concerned, which extend throughout the entire plant. In connection with such systems it is desirable to provide an annunciator that will accommodate an operator situated at the principal oice and apprize him of the conditions throughout the entire plant.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a signalling system of a compact and unitary structure that may be housed in` a single cabinet and include a plurality of outlying signalling stations, the operation of any one or more of which serves to operate an annunciator and an alarm simultaneously and to thereby excite the attention of the caretaker at the central sation, or, if preferred, to sound an alarm throughout the plant and to apprize of the location and nature of any disturbance occurring anywhere Within the compass of the system. i

The present invention contemplates, in addition, the provision of means for promptly checking its several circuits in order to assure a caretaker that its several parts are in proper operating condition and that the system is in readiness for receiving and responding to alarm signals that may originate at any of the several outlying stations,

The system contemplates also the provision of means for repeating an alarm signal a predetermined number of times to excite the attention of the caretaker and the provision of means for indicating by a signal individual to the calling station and to thereby apprize the operator of the identity of said station.

In carrying out these and other objects of the present invention, the system embodies in its preferred form the provision of a unitary cabinet structure which comprises a complete enclosure Yating condition of each line.

or housing that may preferably be suitable sealed so as to render it dust and moisture proof and that is small and compact so as to be capable of ready installation in premises Where economy of space may be especially desirable. The signalling lines radiating from the cabinet structure located at the central office extend throughout the plant and normally carry current or are energized so as to assure'more positively the proper operation of the system in contradistinction with an alternative method of operation where the several lines normally carry no .current and where reliance is placed upon the proper oper- When any one or more of the outlying stations is operated, it opens the line and causes the release of a normally energized relay associated with said station and located at the central oilice. When this occurs, a signal is stored representative of the particular station, or where more than one station is operated at any given time, several signals are thus stored by storage relays.

Following this, a circuit condition is established in accordance with the first station operated, which condition responds to the travel of a seeker or selector mechanism so that the latter, at a predetermined interval in a cycle of operation, causes nally the operation of a code signal a number of times corresponding numerically to the identification character of the station. The code is preferably repeated twice, and at the conclusion of the second repetition a subsequent signal condition is established if another station has been operated preparing a circuit operable for this subsequent signal, and this in cooperation with the seeker mechanism causes the tolling of the audible signal or operation of another form of signal.

In this manner the sequence proceeds in accordance with the natural arrangement of the storage relays until the signals of each of the operated stations is transmitted and sounded, after which the system repeats until brought to rest by the restoration of the closed line condition in each of the several stations.

In addition to the foregoing, other features of the present invention include the provision of a. test circuit which is normally prepared and which is operative for indicating certain disorders in the local station equipment. In its preferred embodiment, this test circuit is associated with a parallel lighting circuit that passes through each of several station indicating lamps, causing the latter to be lighted momentarily for the purpose of indicating by comparative condition when any one ci the lamps is burned out or when, due to any other reason, it rails to function. Concurrently, a trouble signal is sounded and a lamp lighted indicating to a caretaker that a local disorder has arisen and designating what adjustment need be made to reestablish proper condition. Y

For a better understanding of the present in vention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like designating characters indicate similar parts throughout and wherein,

Figure l is a iront elevational view of a cabinet structure embodying features of the present invention and having certain portions broken away to reveal the interior structure; t

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional detail View taken approximately on line 2 2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a detailed plan view of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure l.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 combinedly indicate a wiring diagram embodying certain features of -th'e present invention, and,

Figure 8 is a general perspective View of the cabinet structure embodying the features of this invention.

*aving particular reference now to Figures e, 5, 6 and '7, there is illustrated diagrammatically a wiring-arrangement or hookup having a central station arbitrarily chosen for accommodating six outlying stations which, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, may correspond to various points located throughout an industrial plant or building where the presen-t invention is to be applied. The switchboard terminals of these six stations, which themselves are numbered 2l, v22, E3, El, 3?. and 33, are located at Zim, 22m, 23m, 347:1.32711 and 33m. Between these latter points and the alarrfr common lead 2&3, are located station switching means which may be manually operated or controlled ior operating therfstation point alarm, or which may also automatically be responsive to a predetermined conditionsuch as, for example, the breaking oi sprinkler heads, etc.,

which are so arranged to break the normally closed circuit with which each station 'is identified.

IThe six 'stations in the system, shown in the drawings are numbered 2l, 22, 23, 3l, 32, 33., which may be the code number for the stations; that is to say, 23, would be announced by two short signals followed by a pause, and then three short signals following, and if the station number is repeated, the successive station signal which will follow will be repeated after a longer pause than between the numbers of the station.

Each station has associated with it, in the present system, a number of independent elements including a line lamp numbered EIL, 221i, 2311, SiL, SEL, SSL which line or lines are signalling by going from a dim condition to full brilliance on the operated lines, a storage relay numbered 25T, 22T, 23T, 31T, 32T, 33T,two sequence relays, one, the upper of the pair, slow, and the other, fast, numbered ZQ, 22Q, 23Q, SIQ, SEQ, 33Q, va gro-up of alarm terminals, EIM, 22M, 23M, SBM, 32M, 33M, and other elements to be mentioned later.

Each storage relay in the group is energized in normal operation in a circuit in series with the particular station `which it represents; for instance, station 33y with the storage relay EST is energized from the .power line 2li in a circuit through this storage relay coil, through thecontacts or the sequence relay 33Q, through the out- CII side alarm box circuit to the resistor 2M and then to the other side ci the line 2M. Similar separate circuits are employed iol1 the storage relays SZT, 36T, 23T, 22T and 2 ET. While the storage relays are normally current carrying relays, the sequence relays on the other hand normally operate in an open circuit condition with their contacts forming on both sides series circuits which are separate from each other forming negative side and a positive side with each set of series contacts. The positive line may be traced through the group of series contacts beginning at the positive line 263 through the connecting e 2115 to the right contact RQ of the sequence 1e.ay thro-ugh the connector Elfi to the right contact RQ of the sequence relay 22, and so on up through eachright contact RQ of the seyquence relay including the transfer sequence relay and the relays IMQ, SEQ, and SEQ in series successively. The negative lines which are controlled by the slow acting relays may be traced from the negative side '2do through the conductor ii'i, the contact 268 or the final closing relay, the line 2id to the contact itt at the left of the slow acting relay successively this circuit follows throughy the closed contacts 228 of the other sequence relays as ,far as the relay 21Q where the series ends and is connected to the positive Aline through the coils of EQ and the connector Siti.

It will be seen from the above that each sequence relay is provided with Contact switches the vcontacts 'of the slow acting coil in the negative o'i the line and the contact of the fast acting coil in the positive side of the line, and that the lines are supplied with potential through the relays in reverse order; is, the relay SEQ is Yat the beginning of the negative side of one line and at the `end of the positive side of the other line. When therefore the storage relay gives way by a break inthe system as when an alarm opera-tes, or when one of the test vswitches t9 is opened, the sequence relay which first functions, will break the line at that point and make it possible for that particular sequence relay to operate and no other until that relay has been restored. For instance, assume that the storage relay for station storage relay .GET has failed, thus releasing its contact which thereby will permit the energization ci' the sequence relay 32Q through the negativ@ line 2i@ and through the positive line which may be traced through the connecting line Z, to the RQ switch of the sequence relay MQ, in a similar fashion through the transfer 'sequence relay and then through the relays 223, 22 and to the posit-ive conductor The operation of the quick acting switch of the sequence relay Si@ will break the positive supply of current to the sequence relay and action of the slow acting sequence relay will breal; the negative 4supply of current to the relays transfer sequence relay, and the other'sequence 4rel-aysto, HQ 'and '.iQ, permitting none of the other sequence relays to operate. When once Lhe sequence yrelays have-operated a number of other levents occur.

The slow acting Vrelay kopens the Contact kSQ of the sequence lrelay thus keeping the circuit through the storage relay open until the lsequence relay been restored to normal. This will permit the program oi the 'operation yof Ithe system to be completed witl-.out possible interruption by refunctionin-g of vthe 'storage relays before the cycle .of operation has been completed. The sequence relays also-operate thevcontacts for estabvall the operated alarm boxes.

lishing the connections to theV code drum 224. The code drum for six stations numbered 2|, 22, 23, 3|, 32, 33, is provided with seven contacts C| to C'| inclusive. If the sequence relay has operthrough the contactor relay coil 22B, the time limit cut out 221 through the lines 233 and 204 to the positive side. l

The supply of potential to the contacts of the drum through the switch contacts C2i, C22, C22, C23, C23, C3|, C3|, C32, C32, and C33, is arranged as in the copending application Serial No. 305,442, led November 2l, 1939, and issued as Patent No. 2,263,877, November 25, 1941. The opening of the left contact of switch C32 opens the circuit which connects through the contact of C32 tothe brush B4 which would otherwise complete contact with the contact C4 when the drum and brushes are rotated relatively to bring contact C4 beneath the brush. Similarly the right contact C32 opens the circuit for the line 229 which is directly connected to the brush B1 when the drum rotates relative to the brushes. The other brushes Bi, B2, B3, B5, B3, will supply current to their corresponding contacts through the positive connection to the line 225 and cause the station number to be sounded, namely, three bells, a pause and two bells, indicating that the station 32 is operating.

The positive line of series contacts of the fast acting coil of the sequence relays form a closed circuit to the negative side of the line through the motor control relay coil 233, the slip ring segment 23|, the slip ring 232, the line 2| l to the negative connection 230. When the positive line is broken, for instance, as when sequence relay 32Q operates, the motor control relay `coil 233 is deenergized and the contact 233 is made to the conductor 234, the line 2li and the negative side, thus energizing the motor 235 whose `positive side is connected to the plus side 204. The motor 235 drives the selector the selector 2 and the commutator segments 232, 23|, 23B, 237, 238 and 233, as Well as the code drum 224, which however is geared 3 to l as regards the commutator` units and selectors. Since the brush to the segment 23| and Athe segment move out of contact with each other, the motor relay coil 230 remains deenergized permitting the motor circuit to remain closed and the motor to continue to operate regardless of the condition of the sequence relay.

It will be noted that at any time any storage relay may operate other than the one which has already operated. Any such second storage relay will not bring about the operation of the second alarm until the signal sequence of the first has been completed. The operation of the motor sets in motion the various elements that complete the cycle. j

The selectors and 2 rotate at one third the rate that the code drum rotates and therefore two ses of signals are given out by the code drinn before the selector brushes bridge the open contact of the sequence relay to allow another sequence relay to operate if the corresponding storage relay is open. The motor control relay circuit, after it is opened will remain open until the commutator segment 23| bridges the conductors 2|`| and 240, and the fast acting sequence relays are all restored by the closing of the circuits at Therefore as long as any of the storage relays are not energized,

which will compel action of the sequence relays,

the sequence of signals will continue to repeat themselves. l

The system is so arranged that if a number of stations are simultaneously operated, as for instance by a fire in the plant or the operation of a sprinkler. system so that the storage relay circuits are broken, the operation of the various stations Will follow in sequence in the following order of rotation, 2|, 22, 23, 3|, 32 and 33. If during the operation of the alarm for one station, other stations act to break the circuit of their corresponding storage relays, the sequence which will be followed for the operation of the other stations will commence with the station of the next highest number to that giving the alarm when the new stations come into action. For example, if station 32 is sending its alarm and the storage relay for station 33 is deenergized, then the next station to operate will be station 33. If stations 2| and 22 also come in at the same time as station 33, then following the alarm given for station 33, station 2| and station 22 will operate and thereafter the signals will be repeated indefinitely in the order 2|, 22, 32 and 33, with pauses between the signals for the various stations due to the gap in segment 236.

Before explaining the sequence of this system, some of the features of the circuit should be noted. The selector brushes |33 and |34 move clockwise about the selectors and 2 respectively successively bridging the RQ contacts for the various stations in the following order. Station 33, stations 32 and 23 simultaneously, stations 3| and 22 simultaneously, the transfer sequence relay and station 2| simultaneously. Itwill be noted that the bridging 0f the RQ con-tact for station 32 when this station is operating, will complete the positive line through all the fast acting relay contacts and therefore close the positive line through the sequence relay 33@ to the contact a of the storage relay of station. 33 which we assume has now opened the circuit and is waiting to give its signal lto the negative line 2 I 9 and then through the contacts ZIB, the line 234 and the line 2 I1 to the line 260 to the negative terminal. When this circuit has been completed the fast acting relay 33Q will immediately open the positive line beyond its RQ contact so that the nnal closing relay coil 243 will not operate. lThe slow acting relay coil will also be energized and open the Contact 220 `so that the negative line of all the lower station members will also be opened. Not only will it be impossible for any other station to operate, but it will be seen. that the alarm signal will be transferred .from station 32 to station 33. Since the positive line above the station 33@ remains open, the circuit to the motor control relay coil 233 will also be open and the motor will continue to turn as it did for the previous alarm signal. Therefore selectors and 2 and` all the commutator segments previously mentioned as Well as the drum will continue to function. The signal nowy given by the drum will be given as three rings by the energization of the brushes BI, B2 and B3, a pause since the brush B4 is not energized, and three rings by energization of the brushes B5, B3 and Bl. When the signal for the station 33 has been given, a station of the lower numbers may operate if its storage relay circuit has become open. Assume for instance that the storage relay of station 22 has been deenergized so that its contact a is made with a negative line. First it will be noted that Lthe positive line through the RQ contacts are all closed up to the station 33. The selector brush 1.33 its rot-ation about `the selector v2 rst bridges the RQ Contact of the sequence relay 33162 vthus completing the positive line from the supply line 293 through all the RQ contacts through the iinal closing relay ycoil 2.43 through .the oommutator segment v231 which has .moved into .contacting position from the position shown `in Eigure 4, 'through the commutator ring 232 :through the line .2H to the line 200. The bridging there- .fore of the RQ contact of station 3.3 energizes the final .closing relay `raising the 'contact .21 8 :and thereby :breaking the :negative line to the contacts of the slow acting coils of the .sequence relays.

'This action deencrgizes the .entire :negative line and all of the sequence relays, thus 'keeping all of lthe RQ contacts 4closed and this condition .conitinues until the segment 231 leaves its contact .brush Vwhich occurs while the segments 2.39 still .remain in contact vwith their corresponding brushes. When thesegment 23'! leaves lthe brush 2.31', vthe 'circuit to lthe final closing relay is broken, completing again the negative line v2,19 to the contacts of the slow vacting sequence relay .'c0i1s.

At this point therefore both negative and positive lines are completely restored and therefore the lowest numbered station will operate as texplained before. In other words, since the fast acting coils would all 'operate before the slow acting coils, `the rst in Yseries of 'the fast acting .coils will be vthe station to control. Vlfhile the positive .line to the nalrolosing relay 243 `is room- `pleted, it should also .be noted that the line to the motor control relay .230 `is not completed since the circuit yis broken at the. commutator .segment 213| at this `moment because .of the commutator position Vas previously mentioned.

After the station-21| has operated, the brushes i313 and 1.34 in connection with the selectors fl Aand 2 -short circuit the RQ contact of station 2| and vtherefore shift the operation to the station 22.

lnthe next fcycle ofthe selectors I and '.2, Lne RQ .Contact of .station .22 .when bridged .by the .brush k|33 shifts .the signal action tostationi2f3.

When rthe RQ contact of the station 23 has been bridged,-the transfer sequence relay wllbe- :come .energizedithroughzthe negative line.2:l9, .the

line 2M, one of the brushes 239', a segment239,

the ssecondsegment v2139, the second brush 1239', the :line 242 :to one side .of the sequence relay .coils .throughthesequence relay coils and 'athe se- -quence melayRQcontacts to the positive'line y2123.

The :completion .of this circuit will Ioperate the .transfer sequence Arelays,.deenergized its .RQ contact preventing therefore the operation of sta- :tions 3l, 32 and '33 until afterv the Atransfer se lquence relays `have become deenergized. 'The transl-'er sequence relays become .deenergized :when thebrushes v2:39 leave the 'commutator segunentsiZS which .islaterin the -cyclezthan when the brush 23.1" .leaves .the .segment 231, so :that .in :sequence oioperation, rst thenal closing .re-

lay coilbeoomes energized opening :the negative y Among the `commutator segments, the fcode loc Ysegment 23a supplies potential to the code .drums only throughout two revolutions of the drum and in the `next revolution the code is silent.

Where the code for a station has been ycompleted :before the storage .rela-y for .the next station has operated, the sequence will of course follow the order ci the operation of the various .statiche-but -w-here simultaneously a number of Astorage relays have Yoperated as for instance in .a lire vover .a large area, the sequence is arranged to follow numerically from the smaller numbers to the larger numbers `as explained above. In such cases if the lower numbers lhave .been ope ated, the ztranstergsequence relays transfer to the next group of numbers. It is vof course obvious that the transfer sequence `relays may control other groups of stationsso that thereby the same system may Abe extended.

Other lauxiliary lcircuits `will .now be described.

The .line `larnp :circuit .may be-.traced from the negative line 2M Figure 7, through to the coil .23.1 of the line 'lamp vsupervisory rel-ay then through the line 202 to the normally closed Contact switch vla :of ithe storage relay 33T, then [through .the line lamp 3.3L .and the switch c to the storage relay 33. The .circuit through the lineflamp'then ycontinues down througheach one .of 4the station line lamps through the switches@ :and b 4of vthe storage vrelay 32T and through the :switchsb of .the .storagerelay 13 I T to theotherside of thelline which connects as :illustrated in Figure 7 through the conductor 32M to the plus vside .of the power supply. The line vlarnps of the .twenty'groun that is, 2.I:L, zthiandtSL, are connected similarly through the second line lamp supervisory relay 2st through .the line Zilli and fthe oontactswitchesas follows:

'Throughythelamp 23L by means ofthe switches b .and cof'the storage relay 23T; through the switches c and bfof thestorage relay .22T and the damnit Luandthrough the switch b of the storage .relayriandithelamp ESL; then to the positive :terminal :through .the line .'2E3.

It .will :bezseen from these circuit=conneotions that the'linezlampszin series .williunction vasilong .as the Llinecircuit is completed and the lampsare '.capable of transmitting the current through them. .Itanyof the lampsof the thirty group .give way, fthe :line supervisory .relay .26! will fail, .while :if any of the lampsof .the1twentygroup give '.way, Vthe relay25 will `fail,r and thiswi'll'be indicated inthe lineflarnptrouble lamp illthe circuit of Awhiohwill.be. completed iromthe negativesupplylineZBil through the switch of either relaylll or 295, thelainpr'tl'. and theline 2Q8,.to :the negative sideio-thelow voltage source i2ll9. 4'At-the.sametimeftl'rat-the line lamp trouble-lamp glows, the operating t-rouble bell it@ will also Kring,.so thatif the watchmanor operator-does .not see theiline lamptrouble, he will still hear fthe-:troublebelL If desredlthe trouble bell may be out out by the silence switch 2l l.

The :test switchesi, ifopened after a lamp -ifailure .will'test'vvhich of the station lamps .are

. goodfas then the lamp is connected across the power supply. lIL-33Lfailsto'light when'its test switch .is opened, .the lamp .3.3L has Ifailed; tif, V.'t'ZLlfails:.tolight when itsntest ,switch is. opened, A3.2L Afailed; .and IML has failed iflitfdoes not 4lighiz-f'wher1-its .test switch' is opened.

ln .'Figurej all of the supervisory units are :labelledandallrare'connectedI so that when any ;.trouble o.ccurs it maypositively be'indicated.

Int-hecase of thexmotor circuit, itwll be noted .that :the motor .is operated directly across the lines 200 and 204 when the motor Control relay coil 230 releases thecontact 233. When the motor control relay is holding, the circuit through the motor supervisory relay is completed through the line 200, the motor supervisory relay coil, the motor itself and the line 204. This circuit is such on account of the resistance of the relay that the motor will not operate. If for any reason the motor circuit fails, then the circuit to the motor supervisory relay is opened and this will be indicated by the lighting of the motor trouble lamp. In the case of the contactor supervisory relay, it will be noted that the coil of this relay is connected across from one side of the contactor relay across to the line 200. This circuit is such that if a break occurs in coil 226 of the contacter relay the contacter supervisory relay coil will become deenergized permitting the circuit to the contacter trouble lamp to be completed. The trouble supply supervisory relay will operate when the power supply fails to the trouble circuit.

In its preferred embodiment, all of the apparatus at the central station is housed within a metallic enclosure |55, Figures l to 6, with the main body portion |56 of rwhich comprises a cover element |51 hinged at |58 and |59. The cover |51 is preferably close tted to the box portion |56 and lined with suitable dust-prooiing material so as to minimize the exposure of the contained apparatus to atmospheric and environmental conditions.

The cover portion |51 supports an enclosure housing |60 which contains the storage relays ZIT, etc., and the signal lamps 2IL, etc., in registration with which there are provided opalescent Window elements |6|, labeled to correspond with their associated indicating lamps ZIL, etc. The cover 251 also supports the switch 69, of which there is one for each station, and a red colored window |62 through which is visible the signal lamp 201. The various lines which connect relays 2IT, etc., and relays 2|Q, etc., are conducted between the sub-enclosure housing |60 and the main body portion |58 together so as to form a cable |63, while the several lines I3 leading from the station points to the terminals ZIM., etc., are likewise assembled together to form an outgoing cable |64 preferably passing through the wall section of the enclosure |56 through an insulating packing ring |65.

In Figure 2 there is shown in part by way of exemplication, the mechanism shown to the right of Figure 4 and the motor of Figure 5. The various brushes contacting selectors I and 2, the commutator ring, and the commutator segments are mounted on a brush carrier 93, while the selector and the commutators are mounted on a fixed drum 80.

The code Idrum 224 is driven by the gear 95 from the gear 96 which drives the brushes for the selector and commutator units.

The code drum 224 may be of the conventional distributor type, including an inner metallic cylinder |09 having tted thereon a sleeve IIB of insulating material. Around the periphery of the drum 224, in a staggered spiral relation, are presented a series of cam projections or contactors III, corresponding to the contacts CI, etc., of Figure 6. Each of these cam projections is in transverse alignment with one of the wiper blades Bl, etc. The drum rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow I I2.

The brushes for the selectors and commutator units are shown in the upper part of Figure 3.

The pairs |33 and |34 may correspond to those for selectors and 2 and the brushes II1, |20, |40, |25, |24 and |23, may correspond to those for units 232, 23|, 236, 231, 238 and 239, with corresponding convenient order and arrangement.

The drawings in Figures l, 2, 3 and 8 are not intended to show detailed placements of the elements indicated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, nor to show all the switches, relays, indicators, bell wiring or connecting terminals as showing would unnecessarily complicate the understanding of the invention. To this extent the showing in Figures l, 2, 3 and 8 are exemplications cf how the mechanical mechanism coacts in theelectrical circuit and functioning of the apparatus. The schematical diagram of Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 is complete to show in detail the entire construction, functioning and manner of operation of the system when taken in connection with the description given before.

It should also be noted that this system is ca` pable of a great many variations in structure and arrangement within the scope of the essential embodiments of the invention. The illustrations in the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description should not therefore be taken as limitations of the present invention, but merely as exemplary illustrations thereof, the true aspects of the present invention being indicated by the hereinafter annexed claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. In combination, in an alarm system for a plurality of distributed stations, each identified `by a particular code signal having a sequence relation one to the next in assigned groups, an independent normally energized circuit for each of said stations having local control means whereby the circuit may be broken for cornmencing thel functioning of the alarm, a plurality of storage lrelay means, one operatively connected to each of said independent circuits and operative to store its station alarm for ultimate production, code means for producing the particular code signal identifying the station operated and means operatively associating said plurality of storage relay: means with said code means for establishing and selecting the sequence of operation among the several stations operated including means for transferring from one group to the next.

2. In combination in an alarm system for a plurality of distributed stations, each identified by a particular code signal having a sequence relation one to the next in assigned groups, an independent normally energized circuit for each of said stations having local control means whereby the circuit may be broken for commencing the functioning of the alarm, a plurality of storage relay means, one operatively connected to each of said independent circuits and operative to store its station alarm for ultimate production, code means for producing the particular code signal identifying the station operated and means operatively associatingr said plurality of storage relay means with said code means, including a plurality of parallelly arranged sequence relays having armature Contact elements for establishing the selected code and armature contact elements adapted to connect its relay across a pair of lines, one energized from one end, and the other energized from the other end, the one line having in series a slow acting armature of each oi said relays, whereby the operation of any one of said relays will operate said 

